61. Lieut.-Commander Hutchisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether 534 his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Norwegian Government to abolish petrol rationing on 1st November, and to substitute thereafter a voluntary scheme of restriction on travel by motor car, under which journeys will be permitted within certain times and a certain radius; and whether he will consider the introduction of a similar scheme in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GaitskellI am aware that the Norwegian Government has announced the abolition of its present petrol rationing system, and its replacement by restrictions on the use of motor cars at certain times and within a certain radius. Any such system must involve the use of petrol for non-essential purposes which we cannot, unfortunately, afford in this country at the present time.
Lieut.-Commander HutchisonIs not the right hon. Gentleman prepared to trust the British people in this matter?
§ Mr. GaitskellI am afraid that trusting the British public in these matters would cost us a great deal of dollars.